I cover my water pan and drip tray with foil to make for easier cleanup. I want to know if anyone has covered the shield that covers the element and wood chip tray. Drippings really get baked on and are hard to remove. What do you think?

I cover my water pan and drip tray with foil to make for easier cleanup. I want to know if anyone has covered the shield that covers the element and wood chip tray. Drippings really get baked on and are hard to remove. What do you think?

Most of mine is covered by the water pan, but it gets some drips. They never seemed to hurt, but if you want to cover it, go ahead. Just don't make the cover much bigger than the shield, so it doesn't constrict heat or air flow.

Bear, thanks for your input and the posts of so many others. All my smokes have been successful and my wife and I have been very impressed with the moist, tender, and flavorful meats for a first time smoker using tips and techniques from this site.